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3DS XL Review
We get hands on with Nintendo’s re-vamped 3DS console – the 3DS XL. Is it worth the upgrade? Well check out this video to find out!
The Nintendo 3DS XL is a larger version of the Nintendo 3DS portable gaming handheld, 90 per cent larger than the original 3DS. It features two cameras, one on the inside, the other on the outside for taking photos and playing augmented reality-style games. Its lower screen is a touchscreen display, that also works with the supplied stylus. The 3DS XL has one analogue control stick, four action buttons on the front, two L/R shoulder buttons and start buttons. Features include motion sensors, a gyro sensor, built-in microphone, headphone port and SD memory card slot.
The good
The much larger display makes games easier on the eye, bringing games to life to broaden the appeal of Nintendo’s 3DS range. Should you wish to have the 3D effect switched on, the effects are much more noticeable and obvious than before.
Games such as Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time played on the 3DS XL will take any Nintendo fans breath away.
Nintendo’s 3DS XL also doubles the battery life of the original 3DS’s poor three-hour battery life to offer more gaming fun on-the-go.
The 3DS XL isn’t a new console, but a newer version, so you’ll still be able to play the same games from a gaming library that is beginning to impress. Titles such as Super Mario 3D Land, Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and more to come will make most Nintendo fans happy. Nintendo fans are also able to download retro NES and Game Boy classics to add more life to the console.
The bad
The larger screen makes games look even better, but even the 3DS cannot compete with the HD screen quality of the PlayStation Vita. The build quality could also be better, especially when, again, compared to the superbly-made PlayStation Vita.
The 3DS XL also sacrifices portability for size, so there’s no longer any hope of stashing it in your jeans pockets without suffering from unsightly bulges.
And shockingly, the 3DS XL does not come with a charger. Nintendo clearly hopes the 3DS XL will be bought by those who’ve previously purchased a Nintendo DS or 3DS. Those hoping to find a charger will be in for a surprise.
The bottom line
The Nintendo 3DS XL is an impressive system that adds new life to Nintendo’s 3D handheld library. It may not be worth the price to upgrade, but newcomers will not be disappointed.
